Apparatus for sizing and drying warp yarn



Oct. 23, 1951 R. J. TAYLOR EI'AL 2,572,288

APPARATUS FOR SIZING AND DRYING WARP YARN IN V EN T 0R5 RobQr/J. 7551/01- By Job rpqyen zar/ dfforngy Patented Oct. 23, 1951 APPARATUS FOR SIZING AND DRYING WARP YARN Robert J. Taylor and John F. Davenport, Birminghain, Ala., as'signon to McConnell Sales fibfnsinecring Corporation, a corporation of Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,208

Our invention relates to apparatus for sizing and drying warp yarn, and has for an object the provision of apparatus of the character designated for producing warp yarn having reduced lint shedding characteristics.

In the production of warp yarn for weaving, it is desirable that the tendency of the yarn to shed be reduced to a minimum. It is known that smooth yarn, that is, yarn in which the protruding surface fibers are reduced to a minimum, sheds less during weaving than does rough yarn. Protruding surface fibers are largely produced by the high tension occasioned by splitting the ends of yarn by the lease rods of the slasher after they have been squeezed together in the size box and dried as a sheet on cylinders or in an oven. As heretofore practiced, yarn has been sized and dried as a sheet with the surface fibers from each strand left in protruding position. When such a sheet is divided by the lease rods at the delivery end of the slasher, the dried film of size is broken and pulled away from those protmding fibers. Such yarn is rough and during weaving a large percentage of the protruding fibers come oil as lint. It has heretofore been proposed to reduce the number of protruding surface fibers by splitting the yarn into several warp sheets or sheds as it leaves the size box and while still wet. The method for accomplishing this has been to insert rods, either fixed or freely rotatable, between the ends as the sheet leaves the size box. The sheet is thus wet leased," and the sheds are brought together and dried either in a hot air chamber or by means of heated cylinders. While this apparatus is eifective to reduce shedding to sonic degree. so far as we are aware results obtained thereby are not entirely satisfactory.

It is a prime object of our invention. therefore, to provide apparatus in which the lint shedding characteristics of warp yarn is reduced by splitting the yarn into a plurality of warp sheets or sheds as it leaves the size box, and while so di- Vided and still wet with size, to'wipe both sides of each shed with a motion parallel to the direction of the ends forming the sheet, thereby to press protruding surface fibers against the ends, where they are held in place by drying the sized sheet.

A further object of our invention is to provide an apparatus of the character designated in which a plurality of rotatable lease rods are disposed in a straight line, at a slight angle to the warp sheet, whereby both sides of each shed come in contact with the rods, together with variable speed means to drive the rods. whereby 4 Claims. (Cl. 2828) the speed at which the yarn is wiped may be varied as may be required under difierent operating conditions.

A further object is to Provide means for supporting the rotating rods so that they may be removed easily and quickly, thereb to facilitate leasing when changing a set of section beams, or to re-lease yarn during the running of a set of beams.

We have found that the protruding fibers are caused to adhere to the strands in greater numbers and more effectively if the rods for separating the warp sheets are positively driven. Accordingly, we arrange a plurality of rolls in a straight line and at a small angle to the warp sheet, and provide positive drive means for the same. The assembly of rods is placed between the delivery squeeze rolls of the size box and the drying means. The warp is separated into several sheds by passing the ends alternately over one rod and under the next, each shed thus being engaged on both sides by rods during the time when all ends of the sheet are completely separated. We drive the rods at a peripherial speed different from the lineal speed of the sheet through the apparatus, and the yarn is effectively wiped on both sides. The rods are kept clean by redepositing onto the yarn as much size as is wiped onto the rods. End breakages are materially reduced. and our method and apparatus permits the use of a size having considerably higher film strength than that of sizes heretofore used.

Apparatus embodying the features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thi application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view partly in section showing our improved apparatus associated with the size boxand drying chamber of a slasher;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view illustrating the method of driving the plurality of rods;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lease rods partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating one of the driving connectors or coupling for the rods; and,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along line V--V of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of our invention, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, our improved apparatus is shown in association with a slasher embodying a size box III containing a quantity of size indicated by the numeral ll. At the discharge end of the size box is the usual pair of squeeze rolls I2 and it between which the sheet 3 of warp yarn passes in the manner well understood. The yarn next passes to our improved leasing indicated generally by the numeral l4, and thence over the take up roll 14 and intermediate rolls ll mounted within a hot air drying chamber 14. The sheet S in its passage through the size box III is wet with the size ii therein, and the rolls l2 and I3 serve to squeeze from the sheet all but a predetermined amount of size.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to inclusive, our improved leasing mechanism willnow be described. As shown, the same comprises a plurality of rods It. Each of the rods is rotatably mounted in bearing members 2] and 22. The member 22 may be a piece of channel. and both of the members 2| and 22 may conveniently be supported from the sides of the chamber 13 by means of brackets 23. The bearing member 2| preferably is formed of upp r and lower halves 24 and 25, respectively. The halves are provided with semicircularopenings 24a and 25a cooperating, when the members are positioned as shown, to form bearing recesses for the ends of the rods IS. The bearing halves 24 and 25 are held against displacement by depending plates 30, secured to the upper half 24, and disposed to straddle the lower half 25.

Each of the rods 13 is provided at one end with a flattened portion 28, and the flattened portions are provided with kerfs 21. The flattened ends 23 are disposed to fit into connectors or couplings 28 formed of a length of tubing. On one end of the members 24 are provided with intumed lips 23 disposed to fit in the kerfs 21 thereby to effect a non-rotating connection between the connector 28 and the rod 19. Each connector is journaled in suitable openings 3| provided in the upstanding legs 32 and 33 of the bearing member 22. On the side of the member 22, opposite the rods l9, each of the connectors 28 carries a bevel gear 34. The rods is are thus supported for individual removal from the bearings and may be disconnected from the connectors 28 by. a simple endwise movement.

Mounted insuitable bearings 36 and 31 on the side of the bearing support member 22 adjacent gears 24 is a shaft 32. The shaft 38 carries a number of bevel gears 39, each of which meshes with one of the gears 34. Shaft 38 may be driven by any suitable means, although we prefer to drive the same by means of a, variable speed electric motor 4|, through the medium of pulleys 42 and 43, and a belt 44.

From the foregoing the operationof our improved apparatus may be readily understood.

The sheet S after leaving the squeeze rolls l2 and I3 of the size box Ill and while still wet with size, is divided'into a plurality of sheds by passing the same alternately over and beneath the rods l9 as illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the assembly of rods I9 is slightly inclined to the general direction of the sheds so that each shed 46 is wiped on its upper and lower surface by one of the rods. The sheds are drawn through the mechanism in the manner well understood by the take up roll it, and the rods I! are rotated through the medium of the motor 4|, shaft 38 and gears 39 and 34. The rods 19. are rotated so that their peripherial speed is different from the speed 'atwhich the sheet is move ing through the apparatus. The upper and lower surface of each shed 46 are thus subjected to a rotary motion parallel to the direction of the strands composing them. This action eflfectively' reduces the number of protruding surface fibers by causing the sameto lie flat against the individual strands. As the sheds reach the roll I4 the sheet is reformed and the drying proceeds. The sheet may pass next from the drying chamber to the remaining portions of the slasher, not shown, which 'may embody the usual drying cans or cylinders. The sheet next passes to the usual lease rods adjacent the discharge end of the slasher and is wound on loom beams in the customary manner.

It will be apparent that the rotating rod II are kept free of size by reason of the fact that they redeposit onto the sheds 46 as much size as the sheds deposit onto the rods, and end breakage due to an accumulation of size on the rods is entirely eliminated. At the same time, the yarn is subjected to the rotary wiping action of the rods to cause the fibers to lie against the body of the strands.

In practice we have found that with the ap-. paratus disclosed herein, size having a higher fllm strength than that ordinarily employed may be used. For instance, we have found in one case that, an attempt to size yarn with polyvinyl alcohol without dividing and wiping the sheet .by our improved method resulted in excessive breakage at the lease rods at the front of the slasher. After the rotating rods I 3 were inserted, the warp ran satisfactorily with no appreciable breakage. In actual tests, we have found that yarn sized with corn starch and softener therefor, sheds from 50 to less during weaving when processed with the apparatus disclosed herein. The reduction of shedding with several other sizes tested were comparable with the above figures.

When changing a set of section beams, the lease strings are inserted in the usual way. The rods 13 are removed by raising the upper bearing member 24 and withdrawing the flattened end from the connector 28. When the lease string reaches our improved leasing apparatus, the string is removed and the rod is inserted in its place. The removable rods and detachable drive means therefor aid in obtaining a quick and eflicient change of section beams.

While we have shown and described our improved mechanism in association with a slasher embodying a hot air drying chamber, it will be apparent that the same may be used in association with slashers embodying heated drying cylinders.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved apparatus for sizing yarn which produces yarn having a materially of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire,

therefore, that only such limitations shall be a plurality of spaced apart rods with their longi-. tudinal axes lying in a common plane and dis pwed between the size box and drying means,-

said sheet being divided by said rods into a pinrality of sheds. adjacent ones of said rods being 4 arranged to-contact opposite surfaces of adjacent.-

sheds, positive drive means to rotate the rods at a peripheral speed different from the lineal speed of said sheds, and means to vary the rotational speed of said rods.

2. In apparatus for treating a moving sheet of warp yarn embodying a size box and means to dry the yarn after it passes through the size box, a plurality of spaced apart rods individually connected to the driving means through a separable coupling with their longitudinal axes lying in a common plane and disposed between the size box and drying means, said sheet being divided by said rods into a plurality of sheds, adjacent ones of said rods being arranged to contact opposite surfaces of adjacent sheds, and positive drive means to rotate the rods at a peripheral speed different from the lineal speedof said sheds.

3. In apparatus for treating a moving sheet of warp yarn embodying a size box and means to dry the yarn after it passes through the size box, a plurality of spaced apart rods with their longitudinal axes lying in a common plane and disposed between the size box and drying means, said sheet being divided by said rods into a plurality of sheds, adjacent ones of said rods being arranged to contact opposite surfaces of adjacent sheds, and a common shaft driven by a variable speed motor to drive said rods at a peripheral speed different from the lineal speed of said sheds.

4. In apparatus for treating a. moving sheet of warp yarn embodying a size box and means to dry the yarn after it passes through the size box, a plurality of spaced apart rods supported in bearings and individually removable therefrom, the longitudinal axes of said rods lying in a common plane and disposed between the size box and drying means, said sheet being divided by said rods into a plurality of sheds, adjacent ones of said rods being arranged to contact opposite surfaces of adjacent sheds, and positive drive means to rotate the rods at a peripheral speed different from the lineal speed of said sheds.

ROBERT J. TAYLOR. JOHN F. DAVENPORT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

